Introduction

We all know that Steven Stamkos is one of the top players of his generation (Gen Y) and a top goal scorer all time having scored 60 goals one year (in 2011-2012) and averaging 40-45 goals throughout his career as a whole). He was basically Ovechkin 2.0 for the longest time looking at his style and the relatively similar numbers on average (as Ovi has a career high of 65 and has a career average of 50-55 goals a year) and one of the top captains and leaders all time. He (and Hedman) single handedly revived a struggling team when he was first drafted in 2008 (along with Hedman the next year 2nd overall). The Tampa Bay Lightning, the team that took him in the draft overall and doing so almost immediately changed their fortunes since they practically saved them. Because of all those things, both earned the respect of lots of outlets.

Stammer had captained the Lightning to 2 Stanley Cup titles in (2020 and 2021) and 4 Stanley Cup Final appearances (also in 2015 and 2022, losing both in six games to the Blackhawks and Avalanche, respectively). He also nearly went to the finals 3 other times in 2011, 2016 and 2018) 2 of those 3 times under his captaincy (2016 and 2018), won the Mark Messier Leadership Award (in 2023), won 2 Rocket Richard Trophies (2010 and 2012) and was the runner up 3 other times (2011, 2013 and 2015), was the Art Ross Trophy runner up in back to back years (in both 2012 and 2013), was a Hart Trophy finalist (in 2012, finishing 2nd in voting) and was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award in back to back years (in both 2011 and 2012, finishing 2nd in both) and scored the second most goals and fifth most points in the 2010s decade (from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019). Also went to 7 All Star games (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 (as captain), 2019 and 2022) and earned a World Cup Gold Medal (2016).

Even after missing a couple bad injuries like the broken leg (tibia) on November 11, 2013 vs Boston (after an unreal ironman streak dating back to of 344 consecutive games going back to January 2009 and into that tragic day on November 11, 2013) and the busted knee (meniscus) on November 15, 2016 vs Detroit that took him out for long periods of stretches (and the 2014 Sochi Olympics since he was supposed to go and only didn't due to the broken leg not being 100% healed quite yet and instead only 80-85% healed by the start of the tournament) and could've been career-altering or even life-altering, he still managed to rank second in goals (only Ovi ahead) and fifth in overall points in that decade (only Kane, Crosby, Ovi and Giroux ahead). That’s not just being “elite for a few seasons.” Instead, that’s resilience, toughness and longevity in a decade-defining output.

He also made so many players around him better as the team built around him (and Hedman) as the years went on. Despite these things, he was always somewhat under-appreciated by certain outlets and opposing fanbases across the league and being subbed for certain awards in certain years. This could be because of the teams he spent so long with in Tampa, a nontraditional market, name bias with others or whatever other reasons out there. 

2010 Rocket Richard Trophy reflection

In the 2009-2010 season, Steven Stamkos and Sidney Crosby both got 51 goals. This resulted in them sharing the Rocket Richard Trophy as the top goal scorer(s).

I know the Rocket Richard is an automatic award for the most of something (goals in this case) and not to take anything away from Crosby, but I wish Stamkos had won it solo (with Stammer scoring one more in the Bolts last game vs the Panthers on april 10, 2010 for 52 over 51 and 96 points total rather than 95 counting his 44 assists). 

This is because Crosby was already the golden boy of not only his and Stammers generation, but also the league and that I think overshadowed Stammer at least from a league wide standpoint since he was already the next Bolts golden boy after Marty and Vinny (and Hedman too who was a rookie in 2009-2010, but that’s not the point).

Yes, Stammer did get his 51st goal in the last game of the year on April 10, 2010, against the Panthers on an empty net while Crosby had his 51st in the Pens last game against the Islanders that same day with a goalie in net. Yes, he did win it solo 2 years later while also being the runner up on 2011 (only behind future teammate Perry after Stammer and the Bolts as a team I guess had some late season growing pains after having led the league in goals for the first 70 ish games and 5 ish months of the 2010-2011 season, allowing Perry to have a late season surge to overtake him with 50) along with 2013 and 2015 only behind Ovi (plus also being the Art Ross runner up two times in a row in 2012 only behind Malkin and 2013 only behind his linemate St. Louis but never actually won it both in the past or the future). If one more goal by him had occurred in 2009-10, he would’ve had both Rockets solo both 2010 and 2012 instead of one out of two (just 2012).

A hungry upstart (after a relatively quiet rookie 2008-2009 campaign simply figuring out the ropes on the pros fresh out of high school), blazing his own trail on a bottom-tier team, fueled by pure talent and determination.

A solo win in 2010 would’ve underscored that Stammer wasn’t just keeping up. He was leading the pack, even from a disadvantaged position since the Bolts were a much worse team than the Pens at the time and the Pens were the reigning cup champs that finished 4th in the east for a second straight year and coming off two straight finals the previous 2 years prior. Plus, since he was only 19-20 years old and in his sophomore season while the then-22 year old Crosby was already a veteran in his 5th season, it would’ve felt like a generational torch moment.

Again, not trying to take anything from Crosby, especially since he deservedly got the Rocket solo in 2017 with 44 goals (with the runner ups Kuch and a rookie Matthews having 40, 4 below him), but showing that the next great sniper after Ovi had arrived to share the stage.

Instead, the shared trophy that particular year to me blurred that line (to some degree). His career starting in October 2008 and then his badass alpha dog status he had between October 2009 and April 2023 as either a top 5 between 2009-2015, top 10 in 2018-2019 or 2021-2022 or top 20-25 player at any other point in time between late 2015 and early 2023 (until the vibes weren’t the same by late 2023 and onward as teams around him starting declining whether it is Tampa as a team 2 years ago due to loss of depth or this season and last season with Nashville as a team due to various things and/or him individually started declining due to new surroundings or age catching up) into just another chapter in Crosby’s already generational storyline since his start in October 2005.

2012 Ted Lindsay Award win snubbing

As I said above he was named a finalist for the Hart in 2012 as the MVP of his team in the regular season voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and the Ted Lindsay award in both 2011 and 2012, which is similar to the Hart as it is for the most "outstanding player" voted by the NHL players association. 

I always agreed that Daniel Sedin deserved the Ted Lindsay Award in 2011 after the Canucks had the best season in team history in 2010-2011 and Daniel himself had the best year individually (41 goals, 63 assists for 104 points and +30) and Malkin the Hart in 2012 given that Crosby missed most of the 2011-2012 year and yet he still produced individually and kept the Pens dominant through the season as a team as the team finished 4th in the East for the 4th straight year. Because of those things I was actually rooting for them to get those respective awards in those times. The 50 goals, 59 assists and 109 points despite those things was amazing to see, especially since 38 of them were 5v5 and 9 were Game Winning Goals, 1 OT winning goal and was +18.

However, I think the Ted Lindsay Award should've gone to Stamkos in 2012 over Malkin. This is because that year he became only the 20th player in league history, the second player since after the 2004-2005 lockout and only player of the 2010s decade to hit 60 goals and he did so on a mediocre Lightning team.

48 of the 60 goals were at 5v5 and only 12 on the power play and 12 goals were game winners, tying Radim Vrbata (who was in Arizona at the time) for league leader in GWG’s for that year along with 5 overtime winning goals, which was also most in the league that 2011-12 year.

He also had 37 assists for 97 points and a +7. I always say damn if only 3 more assists had been recorded on say 2 more goals by Marty St. Louis to get Marty up to 27 rather than 25 and another by Victor Hedman to get him up to 6 goals over 5 or something so it could’ve been 40 assists and could’ve been exactly 100 points for Stammer that year (60+40 rather than 60+37) then there is no doubt he would’ve had the Lindsay, even though there is more to hockey than points and 97 was still the 2nd highest in the league that year.

Despite the mediocrity of the Bolts as a team in the 2011-2012 year, he kept the Bolts competitive and in games they had not much business being in. 

All in all, he had a season one for the history books, but didn't really get as much respect for it (excluding 2nd rocket richard) as he should've and if Malkin was gonna get the Hart in 2012 as he should've then I think Stammer should've at least had the Ted Lindsay so the dominance of both guys could’ve been recognized equally. It is incredible how even after playing through the last 4-5 weeks of that season with a banged up shoulder he still hit that marker and played all 82 games for a third straight season. All these things were before guys like Kucherov, Point, Vasy, etc, joined the Bolts. 

That 2011-2012 year, his 4th year in the league was no doubt his best goal scoring year and that very last game of that 11-12 year on April 7, 2012 against the Winnipeg Jets where he scored that 60th and final goal of that year will always be a special one. Props to Winnipeg fans for showing their respect and congratulations to him after he executed it after initially booing him every time he had possession of the puck prior to it lol. It shows that when someone is within striking distance from a historic number, they know how to show proper credit and admiration once it is all done!

Snubbed of not winning but being a top three finalist for the Hart Trophy in 2022

I also think about how he had the best overall year of his life at least statistically in the 2021-2022 season (42 goals and career high in assists and points with 64 assists and 106 points with a career best +24 rating. 70 of the 106 points total 26 goals and 44 assists being at 5v5). His 106 points were the most on the bolts by a 21 point margin from the next highest pointed player and 6th most in the league and 42 goals tied Matthew Tkachuk, Filip Forsberg and Elias Lindholm for 9th most in NHL. 11 of his 42 goals were game winners which tied Kreider, Draisaitl and Robertson for most in the league. His 64 assists were also 2nd on the bolts and 9th in the league. 

These stats happened even after the Lightning lost a decent amount of depth from their previous 2 cup runs due to free agency, trades or expansion draft and Kucherov missed about half of the 2021-2022 year due to a groin injury against the Caps along with Brayden Point for about 1/4 of the year due a shoulder injury against New Jersey and Stammers continued individual dominance kept them in it all year long. Because of these things, I think Stamkos should've at least been a Hart Trophy Finalist in 2022. While the chances of him actually winning it were (sadly) slim because of Matthews hitting 60 goals and while we knew McDavid was going to be second for it, I think Stamkos should've been the third finalist for the Hart instead of Igor Shesterkin.

Obviously Shesterkin had an amazing 2021-2022 season with his 36-13-4 record, 6 shutouts, 2.07 GAA and .935 save% and I was absolutely rooting for him to get the Vezina Trophy which he did and I was glad he did, but I don't think he should've been the third Hart finalist. This is because while he was dominant he wasn't overwhelmingly dominant since he had a great team in front of him who were healthier than a lot of top players on the Bolts and had career years of their own like Panarin (22 goals, 74 assists for 96 points), Fox (11 goals, 63 assists for 74 points), Strome (21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points in 74 games), Zibenejad (29 goals, 52 assists for 81 points in 81 games), Kreider (52 goals, 25 assists for 77 points in 81 games), etc, unlike say Carey Price in 2014-2015 (who actually shared the jennings trophy with Corey Crawford and individually won the Hart, Lindsay and Vezina as he should’ve after a 44-16-6 record, 9 shutouts, 1.96 GAA and .933 save%) where he carried everyone on the Canadiens.

Stammer was a prime candidate for the Mark Messier Leadership Award that year (with it ultimately going to Kopitar deservedly so getting LA back into playoffs for first time since 2018 and giving the C to Brown for one game at the end of the year with Brown announcing retirement) before actually winning it the next year, which was wonderful and all 3 Lindsay candidates for 2022 of Matthews, McDavid and Josi were very choices and Matthews winning not surprising in the slightest I mean Josi had a career year in 2021-22 as well (23 goals, 73 assists for 96 points in 80 games) as the Preds just snuck into playoffs as 8th seed and without him, they would’ve been a lottery team, but idk how Stammer wasn’t in the top 3 for the Hart.

Closing

All in all, I am NOT a Lightning fan by any means and I am not really supposed to send praise to them since I am a lifelong Capitals fan and the bolts have been a big rival of ours since 2011 or so, but Stammer always meant a lot to me and while the vast majority of his lengthy tenure in Tampa was perfectly rated, it is baffling to me by how much he had been ignored at certain times like 2012 and 2022 and by certain media outlets or fanbases. 

I think of this post as simply a reflection piece of his lengthy tenure in Tampa and how I think while he was perfectly rated for the most part, I feel like there were times where maybe he could’ve gotten a bit more respect or appreciation. It was wonderful to see him get the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2023, but there are still sometimes where I think a little more appreciation should’ve come, like in 2012 or 2022.  Rather than any bias or blind loyalty, this is writing from a long-term observation across certain years and award cycles.

Sidenote

 *PS, I don't make any injury what ifs in future years cause as gut wrenching as they are, it’s a contact sport where things like that happen now and then. I understand it is easy for people to do so when it's a generational alpha dog and a team's golden boy, but it undermines the purpose of this reflection. Injuries both major and minor once in a while are a part of the game, as horrible as they are and Crosby had his fair share of injuries both before and after certain years and it never slowed him down.